{"id":4124,"date":"2022-09-06T13:13:14","date_gmt":"2022-09-06T17:13:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=4124"},"modified":"2022-09-06T13:13:17","modified_gmt":"2022-09-06T17:13:17","slug":"cell-and-molecular-biology-student-receives-grant-to-fund-cancer-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=4124","title":{"rendered":"Cell and Molecular Biology Student Receives Grant to Fund Cancer Research"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MANSFIELD\u2014When Lauren Griffith transferred to Mansfield midway\nthrough her first year, she had no idea what opportunities would await her at\nher new university. Now Griffith, a cell and molecular biology major, is one of\nthe 2022 recipients of the NASA Pennsylvania Space Grant, and plans to use the\nfunds to continue her research on pancreatic cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Being mentored by Mansfield faculty member Dr. Kristen\nLong, associate professor of biology, Griffith\u2019s research focuses on exploring\nhow curcumin, an experimental treatment for solid tumors, impacts the\ninflammatory bacteria that are present in the gut. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLast semester, using mice as a model, we collected feces,\ncultured bacteria from the feces, and then treated the bacteria with different\nconcentrations of the curcumin treatment,\u201d explained Griffith. \u201cThis semester\nwe plan to use a different systems-level approach, where we feed the mice\ncurcumin over a specific time span. We will analyze the sequences of the\ndifferent bacteria to determine shifts in bacterial populations.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Griffith explained what the grant means in terms of her\nown research project. \u201cThe grant allows me to expand upon my research. For\nexample, I could receive more mice for my experiments and an anaerobic chamber\nto allow for complete analysis \u00a0of all\nbacteria we isolate and grow, since\nwe can only culture aerobic\nbacteria right now.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond her own research on how curcumin treatment impacts\ngut bacteria and tumor growth, Griffith spent the summer at the University of\nMaryland in the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney\nDiseases (NIDDK) STEP-UP program helping with research concerning how various\ntechnologies and software can be used to explore disease therapies. Griffith\nstudied how they affect triple negative breast cancer metastasis therapies. \u201cI\nwas able to conduct independent research firsthand, which outside of my\nresearch at Mansfield, was the first time I have done so,\u201d said Griffith. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI learned so much during my internship,\u201d said Griffith.\n\u201cI learned about the graduate school experience and the different avenues of\nresearch that I could take with my major in cell and molecular biology, what\nindependent research looks like at the graduate school level, how to prepare\nfor a scientific presentation, and the importance of networking in the\nscientific field. For my own research, I learned more about the bioengineering\nfield and how similar it is to my own field.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLauren is a wonderful\nexample of a student who has taken advantage of the opportunities presented to\nher here at Mansfield,\u201d said Bashar W. Hanna, president of Commonwealth\nUniversity. \u201cHer passion for learning makes her a role model for all young\nwomen in STEM.\u201d \u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After graduation, Griffith plans to pursue her Ph.D. in\nmicrobiology and immunology. She wants to build a brand to create awareness for\nyoung women unaware of the different pathways within the scientific field. \u201cUsing\nmy graphic design minor, I want to use social media as a way of helping other\nyoung women who want to pursue a career in STEM or the medical field. I want to\ngive advice, share my journey, and create a brand to provide an outlet for\nthose unaware of the pathways in the scientific field.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Griffith has already started work on her brand, and\nshares advice about college and her experience in the STEM field on her YouTube\nchannel: Lauren Kennedi.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

MANSFIELD\u2014When Lauren Griffith transferred to Mansfield midway through her first year, she had no idea what opportunities would await her … Continue reading >Cell and Molecular Biology Student Receives Grant to Fund Cancer Research<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4126,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4124","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p6V0yH-14w","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":4024,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=4024","url_meta":{"origin":4124,"position":0},"title":"Mansfield University biology students present work at research conferences","author":"rmcnamara","date":"May 4, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"(L-R) Kassidy Wood, Shaelyn Marx, Dain Becker, James Esposito, Lauren Griffith, and Carly Root MANSFIELD, Pa. \u2013 The full return of students to campus for the 2021-22 academic year brought back the excitement of student-based research at Mansfield University\u2019s Grant Science Center. Junior and senior students in the biology program,\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MU-biology-students.png?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MU-biology-students.png?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MU-biology-students.png?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/MU-biology-students.png?fit=940%2C788&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3993,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=3993","url_meta":{"origin":4124,"position":1},"title":"Mansfield University junior earns NASA-funded research scholarship and second summer internship","author":"rmcnamara","date":"April 13, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"MANSFIELD, Pa. - Junior Lauren Griffith, a Mansfield University cell & molecular biology major, received a $4,000 research scholarship from the NASA Pennsylvania State Grant Consortium. Griffith\u2019s funded proposal focuses on the link between the gut microbiome and cancer development and spread. Griffith, a native of Upper Marlboro, Md., was\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Lauren-Griffith.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Lauren-Griffith.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Lauren-Griffith.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Lauren-Griffith.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Lauren-Griffith.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4419,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=4419","url_meta":{"origin":4124,"position":2},"title":"Lauren Griffith Named 2023 Mansfield Outstanding Senior","author":"rmcnamara","date":"June 27, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"President Bashar Hanna presents Lauren Griffith with the 2023 Outstanding Senior Award MANSFIELD, Pa. - Lauren Griffith was named the 2023 Outstanding Senior during Commonwealth University-Mansfield's 158th Commencement this spring. Seniors whose activities and accomplishments have brought recognition to themselves and to Mansfield may be nominated for the Outstanding Senior\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Lauren_Griffith2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Lauren_Griffith2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Lauren_Griffith2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Lauren_Griffith2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/Lauren_Griffith2.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3841,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=3841","url_meta":{"origin":4124,"position":3},"title":"Biology students Lauren Griffith and Shaelyn Marx to serve as American Cancer Society ResearcHERS Ambassadors","author":"rmcnamara","date":"September 8, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"Lauren Griffith (L) and Shaelyn Marx (R) MANSFIELD, Pa. \u2013 Mansfield University cell and molecular biology students Lauren Griffith and Shaelyn Marx have been selected to serve as the 2021 Junior ResearcHERS: Women Fighting Cancer Ambassadors for the American Cancer Society of the Greater Philadelphia area. ResearcHERS Ambassadors help raise\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ACS.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ACS.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ACS.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ACS.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/ACS.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3613,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=3613","url_meta":{"origin":4124,"position":4},"title":"Caitlin Beauduy \u201821 earns NASA-funded research scholarship for work on pancreatic cancer","author":"rmcnamara","date":"August 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"MANSFIELD \u2013 Caitlin Beauduy, a senior cell and molecular biology student at Mansfield University, received a $4,000 research scholarship from the NASA Pennsylvania State Grant Consortium for her proposal on pancreatic cancer. The funding supports Beauduy\u2019s continued investigation into the effect of T cells on solid pancreas tumors. \u201cWith the\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/MU-headshot-Beauduy1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/MU-headshot-Beauduy1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/MU-headshot-Beauduy1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/MU-headshot-Beauduy1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/08\/MU-headshot-Beauduy1.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3627,"url":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/?p=3627","url_meta":{"origin":4124,"position":5},"title":"NASA-funded research scholarship awarded to Brittney Atkins \u201821 for work on pancreatic cancer","author":"rmcnamara","date":"September 2, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"MANSFIELD \u2013 Brittney Atkins, a Cell and Molecular Biology senior from Hamburg, Pa., was the recipient of a $4,000 research scholarship from the NASA Pennsylvania State Grant Consortium. The funding allows Atkins to continue advancing research on pancreatic cancer. Atkins\u2019 proposal seeks to evaluate tumor cell resistance to a new\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/MU-headshot-Atkins.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/MU-headshot-Atkins.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/MU-headshot-Atkins.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/MU-headshot-Atkins.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/09\/MU-headshot-Atkins.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/munews.mansfield.edu\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/LaurenaG_Poster.png?fit=1473%2C1080&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4124","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4124"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4124\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4126"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4124"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4124"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/munews.mansfield.edu\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4124"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}